our roots

The Sanbô Kyôdan line is a Zen tradition set up by Yasutani Haku’un Roshi in 1954. Sanbô Kyôdan
means the "three treasures", these are the three most basic principles: Buddha, Dharma (teaching)
and Sangha (community).

The genesis of the foundation reveals already that the basic character of the organization is that
of the Soto line. But, following the tradition stemming from Harada Sogaku Roshi, the Sanbô-
Kyôdan integrated the Rinzai method of koan study as well in its Zen training in order to bring its
students effectively to the realization of their true self.

The second abbot of the Sanbô-Kyôdan, Yamada Kôun Roshi, received the Buddhist precept from
Harada Sogaku Roshi in 1950; through this connection he came into contact with Yasutani Roshi,
Harada Roshi's disciple, whom Yamada Roshi invited in 1953 to launch the Zen group called
"Kamakura Haku'un-kai" and to begin a monthly zazenkai in Kamakura. In 1967 he was appointed
Zen Master (shôshike) of the Sanbô-Kyôdan.

In 1970, Yamada Kôun Roshi, together with his wife Dr. Kazue Yamada , built the San'un Zendo
in his family compound. "San'un" means "three clouds," representing the three Zen masters in
the same lineage: "Harada Daiun (big cloud)," "Yasutani Haku'un (white cloud)," and "Yamada
Kôun (plowing cloud)". Yamada Kôun Roshi always pointed out: "Zen has no colour". So it is the
apropiate practice for everyone, no matter what religion or confession he or she belongs to.

Kôun-An D'Ortschy Roshi is seen as one of the first Zen teachers in the West. Yasutani Haku’un
Roshi had already appointed Brigitte D'Ortschy to be his Dharma successor and gave her the name
Doru Chiko Daishi. Finally she reveived the confirmation to be the authentic Zen master of the
Sanbô Kyôdan line from Yamada Kôun Roshi. In 1975 she founded the Munich Zendo.